Tightener.



PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

J. M. EVANS.

TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 1907.

W/TNESSES A TTOHNE YS- THE mamas PETERS col, WASNINOYON, n. c.

JAMES M. EVANS, OF GHANUTE, KANSAS.

TIGHTENER.

Application filed October 29, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Serial No. 399,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chanute, in the county of Neosho and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and Improved Tightener, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tighteners, and more particularly devices ofthis character used in tightening fence wires or Woven wire fabrics usedin constructing fences and the An object of the invention is to providea device of the class described, by means of which single wires as wellas strips of woven wire fabric of different widths can be drawn taut topermit the same to be properly mounted upon fence posts and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tightener havingclamping means for securely holding wide strips of woven wire fencematerial, and serving to draw the same taut in constructing fences andthe like.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a fence under construction showing my invention inuse for tightening a strip of woven Wire material; Fig. 2 is an enlargedelevation show ing certain details of the device with parts incross-section; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a part of thedevice.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, itshould be understood that it can be used in combination with tighteningmeans of different kinds, though I prefer to employ the simpletightening mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, and which will be describedin detail hereinafter.

In constructing fences with wire or woven wire fabric, it is customaryto prepare the fence posts in theusual manner and to secure the wires orfabric to one of the same, and then to stretch the wire along the postby means of a suitable tightener before nailing or otherwise securingthe wire or fabric in position. It is necessary to tighten the wires orthe fabric, to prevent theconsequent sagging or loosening of the sameafter the fence is completed.

My device is particularly advantageous for fence building in that bymeans of it, not only single wires but strips of woven fabric of variouswidths, can be properly stretched be fore securing them in position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I prefer to employ atightening mech anism 1, comprising an elongated plate 2 having aplurality of notches 3 at the op osite longitudinal edges. A bracket 4,is slidably arranged upon the plate 2 and has pivoted thereupon a lever5, one end of which is bifurcated and extends at each side of the plate2. At the upper end, the lever 5 has a handle 6 by means of which it canbe manually operated. Between the sides of the bifurcated portion of thelever are pivoted dogs 7, adapted to engage the notches 3 at theopposite sides res ectively, of the late 2. At one end of the pfate 2 isa latera ly disposed toe 8, having an opening therethrough in which isslidably arranged a pull rod 9, pivoted at one end to the bracket 4 andhaving at the other end an eye 10. The end of the plate 2 remote fromthe toe 8 has a clevis 11, carrying a chain 12 by means of which themechanism can be secured to a post A. A pull can be exerted upon the rod9 by means of the lever 5 and the dogs 7, the lever being alternatelyfulcrumed at one or the other of the dogs, thereby advancing the bracketlongitudinally of the plate.

I provide a clamp comprising similar elongated clamp members 13, adaptedto be rigidly secured together by means of screws or bolts 14, andserving to hold fence wires or woven Wire material B therebetween.Shackles 15, comprising U-shaped members having eyes 16 at the ends, areremovably mounted at the extremities of the clamp members and are heldin position by pins 17, removably inserted in the eyes 16. Links 18,having eyes 19 and 20 at the opposite ends, are arranged in planes atsubstantially right angles and are secured to the shackles by means ofthe eyes 20. The opposite ends of the links are joined by a commonclevis 21, secured to the pull rod 9 by means of a pin 22, passingthrough eyes 23 of the clevis and the eye 10 of the pull rod. It will beunderstood that the shackles, the links and the clevis,

are removably secured together and the lastmelntioned is removablyattached to the pull ro In using my invention, the strip of fencematerial B is fastened at one end in the usual manner to one of thefence posts 0 the opposite end of the strip is clamped between the clampmembers 13 and extends along the fence adjacent to the posts. By meansof the tightening mechanism, the material B is attached suitably and isthen secured to the posts in any preferred or common manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent: I

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamp membersadapted to -hold fence wire, means for securing said clamp memberstogether, shackles removably mounted upon said clamp members near theends thereof, said means for securing said clamp members togetherserving to limit the movement of said shackles, links secured togetherat one'end and each attached to one of said shackles, and means forexerting a pull at the adjacent ends of said link.

. 2. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamp membersadapted to hold fence wire therebetween, means for securing said clampmembers together, shackles looselyarranged at the ends of said clampmembers and enga ing said securing means,

whereby said shac les are held in position.

upon said clamp members, links carried by said shackles, means forsecuring together the ends of said links remote from said shackles, andmeans for exerting a pull at the adjacent ends of said links.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, elongated clampmembers adapted to hold fence wire therebetween, bolts arrangedtransversely of said clamp members and serving to secure them togethershackles loosely mounted upon said clamp members near the ends andengaging said bolts, whereby said shackles are prevented from movingalong said clamp members toward the middle thereof, links looselysecured to said shackles, a clevis connecting the ends of said linksremote from said shackles, means for exerting a pull, and means formovably securing said pulling means and said clevis together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. EVANS.

Witnesses:

J. O. MERRITT, G. O. DAVIS.

